"Thus it is said that one who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be endangered in a hundred engagements."
Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

War on Terrorism

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Statement by Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies Regarding Super Bowl Preparations

February 3, 2010 - There were no significant problems with security at Sunday’s Pro Bowl thanks to the support of our local, state, and federal partners. We expect the same seamless effort because the Miami-Dade Police Department and the FBI have been preparing for Super Bowl XLIV for over a year. While the Miami-Dade Police Department is leading the law enforcement effort, the FBI’s role is to protect and defend against terrorist threats.

As the special agent in charge of the FBI in Miami, I want to stress that there is no indication that there are any specific threats to the Super Bowl. But we are prepared.

Our tactical teams have been training throughout the year for different scenarios (active shooter, bombs, and other hazards related to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats). We have hundreds of agents and professional staff prepared to respond. For example, we have SWAT, Evidence Response Teams, and hostage negotiators to name a few. Many have traveled from other FBI offices across the country.

In addition to the FBI Mobile Command Post stationed at Sun Life Stadium, the FBI established a Joint Operations Center to manage resources and coordinate an investigative response to threats, federal crimes, and critical incidents in support of overall event security.

Our Joint Operations Center, which is off-site, houses more than 70 total agencies and their components involved with the security of the Super Bowl.

Here’s the bottom line: Fans don’t have to worry, just enjoy the festivities and the Super Bowl.